ПСС. Том 68. Письма, 1895

3) You write: «You seem to condemn business or commerce and, in that case, if a man is so engaged, would you have him give up his business and live upon the land», which, you say, would be very pleasant, but often difficult and even impossible, especially for those who have a family. How to steer clear of the present network which surrounds us? That is the question. To steer clear of all the temptations of the world is impossible, because every one of us has got former ties and has learnt the truth after having had time to become entangled in the seductions of the world; and these temptations hinder each of us from doing that good which we regard as our duty; but the circumstance, that we cannot altogether liberate ourselves from the temptations of the world and cannot completely fulfil the good which we regard as our duty, does not prove, that man cannot fulfil the law of Christ and do God’s work. The law of Christ lies in one object — in fulfilling the will of the Father who sent us into the world. His will is, that men and beings should not be in mutual enmity, but should be united in love, «that they may be one even as we are one»... The only obstacle to this unity are the temptations of the world, and therefore for the attainment of this aim there is only one means: the destruction of those temptations, which separate men and all beings and leading them to enmity in the place of joy, which is proper to them, and love which is good for them. What then can we do for the destruction of those temptations? First of all — acknowledge, that deceit is deceit, — elucidate it so that all the falsity of deceit should become evident to ourselves and to everyone. And it is necessary to do so not only independently of the fact of one’s participating in it, but on the contrary with all the more energy, the more one participates in it. If I am caught in the net of deceit of state service, landownership, military service, or, as you say, commerce, — the first and chief thing, which I should do is not to conceal from myself the unlawfullness and sinfulness of my position; but on the contrary use all the power of my intellect in order to see it. And if such a man will bring the consciousness of the unlawfulness and sinfulness of his position to full lucidity, he will no more be able to continue the activity, which his conscience condemns. And if he be not able to continue it, he will either find means of leaving it («where there is a will, there is a way»), or, if he does not find the means, he will suffer and search for it and feel himself guilty. And this is the most advantageous state of mind for a christian.

In miracles I do not believe, because I believe in reason. One cannot believe in both, you must believe the one or the other. And I prefer to believe in reason: firstly, because reason is undoubtedly given to us by God, wheras we receive miracles by hearsay, from people, who very often are not deserving of our credit, and secondly, because reason is common to all men, whilst every group of men have their own special miracles; and thirdly, because reason is convincing, whereas miracles are not. Upon this subject I have written in the detail in the introduction and notes to my translation of the Gospel, which is now published by Walter Scott. —

Are you acquainted with the activity of John Kenworthy? He is one of the most near to me in his views and has written excellent articles about questions, which probably will interest you. (I enclose his address and a list of some of his books).

I greatly wish, that my answers may satisfy you: and yet more do I wish, that you should yourself find the answers to these questions in the one and only source, from which we draw all our answers to the questions of life, namely from our heart.

Wishing you true welfare I am with love yours truly

Вы пишете, что желаете мне encouragement in my work¹.

Нет никакого более радостного для меня encouragement, как получение таких писем, как ваше. Что касается до ваших вопросов, то я с большой радостью постараюсь, как умею, ответить на них.

1) Я ничего не имею против обычного воскресного worship,² но полагаю, что оно должно быть разумно, а не бессмысленно, как оно бывает большей частью, состоя преимущественно в чтении одних и тех же книг и повторении одних и тех же слов.³ Воскресный отдых и посвящение этого дня для духовной деятельности может проявиться в самых различных формах. Можно себе представить, что люди одного духа, собираясь по воскресеньям, приносят в собранья те религиозные книги, статьи, которые они находят из старых и новых сочинений, и читают их; можно себе представить, что, сходясь по воскресеньям, люди одного духа устраивают обеды для бедных и служат на них; можно себе представить, что, собираясь, люди одного духа каются друг другу в своих грехах и обсуживают их. Я могу себе представить сотни форм worship’а, только бы они имели целью взаимную духовную помощь и были бы не механичны, а разумны.